2017-05-10

The 14 Best Mirrorless Cameras in 2017

What are the best mirrorless cameras that you can buy in 2017 and how do they compare? From entry-level to professional, we've got the best for you...

The powerful Sony A7S II

Mirrorless cameras are here to stay. They're packed full of features that compete with their digital SLR big brothers, which means professional photographers can capture the same high quality images with a much smaller camera, and for enthusiasts and those just getting started they're a huge upgrade from a compact camera, while still benefiting from their compact body form.

With a host of features including the choice of interchangeable lenses, fast and accurate autofocus systems, wireless connectivity, weather sealing, and many others, there's plenty to consider when buying one in 2017, so here's our top picks (in price order) for you to think about:

1. Canon EOS M10

Based around an 18 megapixel APS-C sized sensor, the Canon EOS M10 will be familiar to anyone upgrading from a compact camera who's is maybe looking to experiment with interchangeable lenses and the ability to get more creative.

Coming up to a year and a half old (it was released in October 2015), the EOS M10 is the entry-level model in Canon's EOS-M mirrorless line-up and is one of the best budget mirrorless cameras available in 2017.

The EOS M10 is available as body only, which is perfect if you've already got a Canon lens, in two colours - black or white, or as a kit with an EF-M 15-45mm lens.

2. Olympus PEN E-PL8

Up next is the Olympus PEN E-PL8 - a camera that is adored by fashion and style bloggers. The E-PL8 is a gorgeous, retro-styled mirrorless camera that celebrates fashion and femininity.

Styled after the iconic original Olympus PEN, the E-PL8 is perfect for blogging and vlogging, with a flip-down touch screen, Full HD video, and built in WiFi for easy and immediate transfer of your images and video to your smartphone or tablet.

The Olympus E-PL8 benefits from being compatible with the entire Olympus mirrorless lens line-up, which give you the creative freedom to shoot how you want to shoot.

Available in either black or stunning white, the E-PL8 is also available as either a body only, or as a kit with a 14-42mm EX Pancake lens.

3. Panasonic DMC-GX80

The Panasonic GX80 came Highly Recommended in the Park Picks 2017 Awards - an acknowledgement of how feature packed this affordable entry-level mirrorless camera really is.

It's got all the makings of a much more premium mirrorless camera, boasting 4K video, 4K photo and Post Focus, a 16 Megapixel sensor with no low pass filter, and 5-axis Dual Image Stabilisation.

The GX80 has these features because Panasonic were early to the mirrorless camera game and have had time for their best technologies to trickle down from the high end models.

This is also the first camera in our line-up to feature a viewfinder - although it is a corner view finder more akin to a Rangefinder or compact camera, than a central viewfinder that you might be used to from a DSLR.

The Panasonic GX80 is available from Park Cameras as either a body only option, or as a kit with a 12-32mm f3.5-5.6 lens, or as a kit with a 12-32mm + a 35-100mm lens kit.

4. Canon EOS M6

The EOS M6 is Canon's latest mirrorless camera, sitting between the EOS M3 and EOS M5 as their mid-range EOS-M camera. It may look like a slightly chunky compact camera, but in reality the M6 has a feature-set that rivals most DSLRs.

The EOS M6 is available with an optional Electronic Viewfinder, or you can shoot with the tilting touchscreen on the back. Overall, it's one of the best mirrorless cameras in 2017 - a truly impressive camera with outstanding focusing, Full HD video, and a compact and lightweight body.

6. Sony a7

Even though the Sony a7 has now been superceeded by the a7 II and it's been out since October 2013, it's still an absolutely fantastic camera, and if you're looking for a first entry into the mirrorless camera world - you could do worse than the Sony a7.

The Sony a7 is a Full Frame mirrorless camera - the first in this line-up that is. The 24.3 megapixel full frame sensor is capable of producing incredibly detailed images and has superb low-light sensitivity, although it does lack image stabilisation.

With the Sony a7 you can pick up one of the best full-frame mirrorless cameras for less than £800!

Boasting a brand new 24.2 megapixel APS-C sized sensor, Dual Pixel CMOS autofocus, a large 3.2 inch tilting LCD touch screen, and Canon's DIGIC 7 process for super fast image processing - the EOS M5 stands out in the EOS-M range as the only camera with an in-built Electronic Viewfinder.

It also features 5-axis in-body image stabilisation, continuous shooting of 7fps for up to 5.3 seconds, and is fully connected via WiFi and Bluetooth so you can instantly download your photos to a mobile device.

9. Fujifilm X-T2

The Fujifilm X-T2 was awarded 'Highly Commended' in the 2017 Park Picks awards as one of the overall Best Products of 2016 - and there's very good reason for this.

When it was released it was the first Fujifilm camera to sport 4K video recording capabilities and came with a new Electronic Viewfinder that allayed some fears about input lag with a 60fps refresh rate.

The X-T2 proved a much more viable camera than its predecessor thanks to a vastly improved ISO range and sensor, as well as a Vertical Power Booster Grip accessory that added extra power in the form of increased fps in burst mode.

10. Panasonic Lumix GH5

The Panasonic Lumix GH5 is likely to be one of the most popular selling and best mirrorless cameras of 2017. When it was launched in January 2017 it broke new ground as the first mirrorless stills camera that's capable of recording 4K video in 4:2:2 10-bit, which is broadcast quality footage.

Packing an all-new 20 megapixel micro four thirds Live MOS sensor, the Panasonic GH5 is proving a firm favourite with filmmakers and videographers who are looking for a compact, lightweight, but immensely powerful camera that will not only give them incredible quality still images but is also capable of shooting stunning video footage as well.

11. Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II

When we first heard about the Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II back in September 2016 we thought it was going to be a sports and wildlife game changer of a camera, then we got our hands on it again in November we knew for sure that it was a magnificent camera for shooting sports, wildlife, or any fast paced action.

In our review of the Olympus E-M1 Mark II we had the opportunity to put the camera through its paces and try out all the features and it blew us away, which is why we think it's one of the best mirrorless cameras this year.

12. Sony a7R II / Sony a7S II

Identical to the Sony a7 II on the outside, the a7R II and a7S II are worlds apart on the inside, and that's what makes the difference.

So what's the difference? Well, the 'R' in a7R II stands for 'Resolution', whereas the 'S' in a7S II stands for 'Sensitivity'.

The a7R II features a huge full-frame 42 megapixel back-illuminated CMOS sensor, as well as 5-axis image stabilisation and internal 4K video recording as well as 399 Autofocus points for highly accurate focusing. When it's resolution that you're after, the a7R II is the camera for you.

The a7S II, on the other hand, features a full-frame 12.2 megapixel CMOS sensor. The pixels on this sensor are larger and further apart than on higher resolution sensors, which makes the a7S II absolutely superb in low light situations, with an ISO range up to 409,600. It also features 5-axis image stabilisation, and 4K video recording.

13. Sony a9

The fabulous Sony a9 is the sure to be one of the best mirrorless cameras in 2017, it's the latest camera on this lineup and caused quite a stir in the photography world when it was recently launched. The Sony a9 is reported to be the first 'fully digital' digital camera - which means that there are no analogue features on the camera. It's got an electronic shutter, electronic viewfinder, 5-axis image stabilisation, and shoots 4K video.

The main tricks of the Sony a9 is its blisteringly fast speed - it's capable of shooting at up to 20fps in continuous mode for up to 241 RAW images or 362 JPEGs. It also has phase-detection AF with 693 points, so pin sharp and accurate focusing isn't a problem.

This is a professional grade mirrorless camera - pitched to sports and wildlife photographers thanks to the speed, but it would equally be at home with anyone looking for a top-of-the-range mirrorless camera, and when paired with Sony's ever-growing range of superb E-mount lenses, this really is a winning combination.

Hopefully this article has helped you choose the best mirrorless camera to buy in 2017, there's plenty to choose from, but if you need any more help, drop into one of our stores in either Burgess Hill or Central London for expert help and advice, or call our friendly Customer Service team on 01444 237070.